DR. IZABELLA WENTZ, PHARM D

Thyroid Pharmacist

Food Sensitivities & Hashimoto's

Food Sensitivities and Hashimoto’s

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The Role of Food in Your Health Journey

When I first set out in search of lifestyle interventions that could change the course of my autoimmune thyroid condition, I came across a promising Italian study.

This researcher followed people who had subclinical hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s and Celiac disease, as they embarked on starting a gluten-free diet.

The study found that when most of the people with subclinical hypothyroidism were placed on a gluten-free diet, their thyroid function normalized! In 71% of people who strictly followed a 1-year gluten withdrawal (as confirmed by intestinal mucosa recovery), there was a normalization of subclinical hypothyroidism. Another 19% of people who followed the gluten-free diet were able to normalize their thyroid antibodies. “In distinct cases, gluten withdrawal may single-handedly reverse the abnormality,” the researchers concluded.

Various studies have looked at the rates of Celiac disease in people with Hashimoto’s. All of the studies have found Celiac disease to me more common with Hashimoto’s, but the incidence rates have varied. While a 2006 Brazilian study found an incidence rate of Celiac disease at only 1.2%  of people with Hashimoto’s, a 2007 Dutch study found that 15% of Dutch people with Hashimoto’s had Celiac disease.

I took these studies to my endocrinologist who reluctantly glanced over them, and told me that I shouldn’t worry about gluten, that I just needed to take Synthroid or Levoxyl and that was the end of the story to the treatment of Hashimoto’s. I was also told that my dose would continue increasing as my thyroid continued to burn itself out and that I would need to be tested for additional autoimmune disease now and then, as having one autoimmune disease put me at greater risk for having additional ones.

I ended up finding another doctor on my insurance who was willing to test me for celiac disease, but to my relief (and disappointment), I was negative. Discouraged, I didn’t attempt the gluten free diet until a little over a year later when I saw my first integrative/functional medicine doctor, who tested me for food sensitivities. Functional medicine doctors are often not covered by insurance, and it took me a long time to understand that I needed to invest in myself, that I was worth it. I paid for the consult out of pocket. It was a Christmas/New Year’s gift to myself, and the equivalent of 10 of my usual shopping trips. Giving up my shopping budget was difficult for me, as I was quite the shopping addict. Shopping kept me distracted from the feelings of sadness, fatigue, acid reflux, pain in my arms, IBS, hair loss and panic attacks. I compromised and decided to shop at second-hand stores.

The rest my friends is history. After a three-day avoidance of the reactive foods (gluten and dairy being my top triggers), my acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome and lifelong stomach pains went away within 3 days. The pain in my arms went away after a few weeks.  Figuring out that I had food sensitivities was my first step into the world of natural health- and healing- and I haven’t looked back ever since.

Since that time, I’ve learned that there’s much more than Celiac disease to the gluten-thyroid connection… a 2002 study in the journal of European Endocrinology found that 43% of people with Hashimoto’s showed activated mucosal T cell immunity, which is usually correlated with gluten-dependent enteropathy, or gluten sensitivity.

I’ve received numerous success stories from people who felt better gluten-free, and some have been able to get into remission from Hashimoto’s by going gluten free. In surveying my readers and clients, I’ve found that about 93% feel better on a gluten-free diet.

I also learned that it’s not just gluten that can be a triggering food for Hashimoto’s! The most common food sensitivities are going to be to gluten, dairy (this was my biggest one), soy, grains (especially corn), nightshades (like potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers), nuts and seeds.

Furthermore, another 75% of my clients and readers reported feeling better on a dairy free diet, 73% reported feeling better grain free, and another 60% or so said they felt better soy free. Egg and nightshade free diets were helpful 40% and 35% of the time, respectively.

Role of Food Sensitivities in Hashimoto’s

The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections.

Food sensitivities are different than food allergies. Food allergies are generated by the IgE branch of the immune system and are going to be immediate, occurring within minutes after eating a reactive food. The person may present with anaphylaxis; hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing; this type of reaction can be life threatening. Shellfish and nuts are the most commonly implicated foods.

Food sensitivities, on the other hand, are going to be governed by different branches of the immune system, IgA, IgM and IgG have been implicated, but the IgG branch has been the most interesting to me. This is because the IgG branch is also thought to be responsible for creating thyroid antibodies in many cases of Hashimoto’s. These reactions may take as long as hours or even a few days to manifest and may manifest as acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, palpitations, joint pain, anxiety, tingling or headaches.

I’ve found that recognizing and eliminating reactive foods can be a life-changer for most people with Hashimoto’s.

Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten.

Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function!

Others may need to dig deeper, looking at infections, toxins, and stress, but getting off reactiveA foods almost always helps the healing process. For example, if a leaky gut is caused by a gut infection such as a parasite, to heal the gut, we not only have to get rid of the infection, but we also need to stay off the reactive foods for at least 3-6 months. Thus, I always recommend starting with food.

Testing for Food Sensitivities

When I was working as a pharmacist, we were always on the look-out for “true, IgE-related, allergies” to foods and medications. These were the life-threatening reactions that could cause anaphylaxis! While I learned about reactions mediated by the other immune branches in Immunology during my first year in pharmacy school, somehow, calling the IgE-related reactions as “true” led me to believe that the other types of reactions didn’t matter. Unfortunately, most conventional medical professionals and insurance companies hold that same misconception, and food sensitivity tests are considered “experimental.” This was, of course, fine with me, as when I “experimented” with removing the foods the tests found to be reactive for me, I felt dramatically better!

The other challenge with food sensitivities is that when we eat the foods that our body is sensitive to on a daily basis, it is very difficult to connect the foods with the symptoms we are having. For example, people who have a dairy sensitivity but continue to eat dairy multiple times a day might be tired, have joint pain, congestion, bloating and acid reflux on a daily basis, but won’t be able to pinpoint the symptom to the foods. I was personally a bread and dairy addict and had no idea that they were causing me issues.

This is because every time we eat this food, the body becomes depleted in its ability to protect itself from the antigenic food, and the reactions become less specific and more chronic. If the food continues to be given, the body will become sensitive to more and more things.

However, once the sensitizing food is eliminated for a few days to a few weeks, the person should feel better and experience less bloating, less reflux, normal bowel movements, more energy, etc.

When the person is exposed to the food again, the body will produce a stronger, more specific reaction, allowing the person to recognize which particular food is problematic to him/her. This is known as an Elimination Diet and is the gold standard for food sensitivity testing. My friend and go-to Nutritionist Tom Malterre just wrote an amazing book on the Elimination Diet, to help walk you through the process.

My Recommended Food Sensitivity Test

I thought about eliminating gluten and dairy for over a year before I took the plunge. I ate a whey protein/yogurt shake for breakfast, tuna melt bagels for lunch and loved snacking on crackers, bread, cookies, donuts, and cottage cheese at every chance I got. I was an avid baker and always attacked the bread basket at restaurants. I loved fruit but was not a big fan of meat, or vegetables.

I didn’t know how I could possibly go gluten and dairy free. Besides fruit, what was I going to eat?

It took seeing my test results in black and white to make the change, and all of a sudden, something shifted in me. I went out to an all-you-can-eat big Polish buffet with Pierogi (made from dough and farmer’s cheese), kopytka (dumplings), kotlety (breaded pork tenderloins) and a smorgasbord of cookies and cakes and said my goodbyes to the foods I had grown up with. And then I started the gluten-free dairy-free diet the next day. Acid reflux was my biggest, most noticeable symptoms that had been with me daily, multiple times a day for over 3 years, starting in January of 2008. I eliminated my reactive foods in February 2011, and I haven’t had acid reflux since that day unless I accidentally ate one my reactive foods.

Here’s my Hashimoto’s and Acid Reflux Story

My test results showed that I was sensitive to both gluten and dairy. But I wasn’t reactive to just the usual suspects, of “gluten, dairy, soy…” I also had strange reactions to pineapples, peaches and began avoiding those as well, noticing that they too, triggered my acid reflux.

There is a multitude of food sensitivity tests out there, and none of them are perfect. Some may have false negatives; others may have false positives or a combination of both.

The test that I found to be very highly accurate for myself and my clients is the Alletess Lab food sensitivity test. If a food comes up positive on that test, I know that it is a reactive food for that person. In some cases, especially if the person has been off the foods for some time, this test may have false negatives, so in the case that people come up negative for one of the big reactive foods, I recommend trying to go off it, and introducing it. Again, the gold standard, most accurate test for food sensitivities is going to be an elimination diet, but if you are someone that is not quite ready to do one, or needs to see things in black and white, you may want to look into food sensitivity testing.

Alletess Lab works primarily through integrative and functional medicine physicians, so if you’re working with a doctor like that, you can ask him/her to order the test for you. I’m also really excited to let you know that I’ve worked with MyMedLab to offer the food sensitivity testing for people to self-order,  without a doctor’s prescription. The test kit comes with a little blood spot collection paper, and can be mailed to just about anywhere in the world!

MyMedLab offers two options to test for the most commonly eaten foods.

I started with the 96 food panel; it was enough to uncover most of my food triggers, and now repeat the 184 food panel on an annual basis to be sure that I’m staying on top of potential triggers, as our sensitivities and reactions to foods can change with time.

The lab will also send me trends (i.e. most reactive foods) for people with Hashimoto’s that get the tests so that I’ll be able to share this info with you in future newsletters. This way people who can afford the testing can help those that may not be able to afford it at this time.

Hope this information helps you on your journey!

PS. You can also download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 Thyroid friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.

For future updates, make sure to follow us on Facebook!

References

  1. Hadithi, M (03/21/2007). “Coeliac disease in Dutch patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and vice versa.” World journal of gastroenterology: WJG (1007-9327), 13 (11),  1715.
  2. Velentino, R, et.al. Markers of Potential Coeliac disease in patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. European Journal of Endocrinology (2002) 146; 479-483
  3. Sategna-Guidetti C, et.al. Prevalence of thyroid disorders in untreated adult celiac disease patients and effect of gluten withdrawal: an Italian multicenter study. Am J Gastroenterology; 2001, Mar; 96(3):751-756
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Comments

  1. I looked up both Alletess and MyMedLab and neither one showed the list of foods tested for in the 96 and 184 panels. Did I miss it?
    Reply

    • Nancy- Thank you so much for letting me know, I will look into it. Here is some information in the meanwhile that you may find interesting! 🙂

      The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing.

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  2. I have thyroid problem and i notice that my hair is falling out plus. Plus i am tired all the time too. I have to force myself to get up and do something. I have been stressed out since i was 9 years old to now. When i was in 12 grade my family told me i was adopted and and that syressed me out more. So when i was 32 i went to the court house and i got some information and i found my real mom but my real dad died, i went to meet my real mom and of corse she was a drug head. When she was pregant with me she did every drug out there. That bothers me because because of her this is why i am stressed out really bad. I am 49 years old now and having problems . My dr. Said that i have diabetes but i dont want to believe in it. My friend takes my sugar all the time it is like in the 135 or 140 but it nerve goes up to 200. I make sure of that. I need help really bad. I ask for help by other people but i dont get it please help about my thyroid or give me some pointers on what i should do. Thank you so very much.
    Reply

  3. Oh my gosh. I read your posted and wanted to cry. I can tell you that for me I had to get to a thyroid specialist before I got rid of the fatigue, brain fog, hair loss etc got better. Start their and make sure get all the paels done. T-4. T-3. Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins. Thyroglobulin antibody. Thyroid peroxidase AB. TSH. I pray you will find comfort soon.
    Reply

  7. If you buy gluten free replacements for junk food, that can be expensive. But pound for pound you get many more meals out of rice, lentils, beans, vegetables and meat than you would on a standard diet. Organic can be pricey sometimes, but well worth it on so many levels when you can afford it.Good luck to you.
    Reply

  8. Sometimes the fight has to come from the patient, I’ve been there was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue / Fibro several years back and also had to pay out of pocket to see an Alternative Dr. And there also has to be a willingness to be proactive with their health. What you can do is go on an elimination diet on your own. There are several books on the topic. And ‘m not going to fluff it, it’s can be a challenge. If you have the ability to have an FSA or an HSA you can start with that to have pretax dollars deducted to go to an account to pay if doing the elimination on your own doesn’t provide you with any relief.
    Reply

  9. You don’t have to pay for tests! Just cut the foods out of your diet for a couple of weeks and then try adding them back in, one at a time, for three days and see what kind of reaction you have. I am starting a garden and buying bountiful baskets to eat cleaner. It’s not nearly as exensive as doctors after eating processed junk.
    Reply

  11. Any experience with ELISA/ ACT Biotechnologies LRA test for food sensitivities? My doctor would prefer that one over Alletess.
    Reply

    • Mindi- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  13. How does Alletess compare to stool tests by EnteroLab since most of the sensitivities show up in the intestines?
    Reply

  14. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, Leaky Gut as well add a severe candida infection after being on antibiotics for 8 months for a kidney infection. My life has been completely changed by this illness. My hair has fallen out, I’m exhausted all the time, I have headaches on a regular basis and I have had the worst bowel issues ever! When I have a Hashi’s flare up, I feel like I have the worst case of flu! I sweat profusely, I can barely pull myself out of bed, I feel horribly sick, joint aches, brain fog, nausea, muscle weaknesses, breathless, anxiety, depression. It also makes my blood sugar go way up (I’m a diabetic. Hate it!) I’m having flare ups often (at least 2 per month). It can last a few days or a couple of weeks. I’m on 15mg of Armour Throid and 20mcg of Liothyronine. I feel lousy most of the time and at the end of my rope. Because of serious gut issues, I ate the same thing everyday for 2yrs( homemade chicken soup and baked chicken and green beans. All organic) I’ve started adding new foods lately but am still having flare ups. Not as often but just as debilitating. Is there something I should be doing that I’m not? These flare ups are ruining my life! Any suggestions of what I can do to decrease them? I’ll do anything!! Thank you for the hope you give by all the information that you provide. I really would appreciate any information you could provide.
    Reply

  15. Jackie, if you have Hashimoto, you are not supposed to take Armour Thyroid. Whoever prescribed it to you was WRONG. ! By taking Aromour thyroid you are feeding the antibodies !!!!!
    No wonder that you have flare ups ! As in the above comments, stay away from all the food sensitivities (and in particular gluten). You need to take “pure” hormones not “glandulars”. Can you find a good doctor who understands what Hashimoto means ?
    Reply

  16. What is your proof for saying that glandular thyroid medication will “feed” Hashimoto antibodies? I have never heard this and it doesn’t sound true to me.
    Reply

  17. Cristina–I don’t know who told you that nonsense about Armour, but it is BS. Without the Armour I am in much worse condition and my antibodies are worse.
    Reply

  19. Cristina,
    Thank you for the info. I’m not sure what “pure” thyroid hormones are. Can you elaborate on them so I can talk to my doctor about it or start looking for a new doctor.
    Thanks!
    Reply

  20. I am also loosing my hair and I have been eating gluten free for 3 years and I still get sick on something. Spices, dressings, ketchup,etc. Does the liothyronine really help
    Reply

  21. I found out I was reactive to chicken and can no longer eat it. Oddly enough, I can tolerate eggs in moderation, but not chicken or chicken broth. Going gluten free, chicken free, and cutting dairy almost completely out of my diet (certain cheeses are okay but others are disastrous for me) have made a gigantic difference. My flares felt like horrible cases of the flu. Sometimes I couldn’t get out of bed. I take 60mg of Armour in the AM and 25 of Levothyroxine at night. When I’m really struggling to function, an additional 30 mg of Armour in the afternoon helps but if I make sure I don’t get contaminated, I can avoid needing that dose.
    Reply

  22. I believe you wrote this article about ME!
    It was so clearly written and has helped me to understand exactly how/why I’m feeling the way I do right now.
    Can’t wait to get your book Root Cause and Elimination Diet too!
    I enjoy your articles!
    Reply

    • Tammy- Thank you so much for your support. I’m looking forward to hearing your progress on this page. Make sure to take the book slow, take notes, highlight, and establish a baseline when making changes. 🙂

      Reply

  23. Your story is my story from start to finish. I like Heathet….maybe Heather don’t have an income that would give me the luxury of charging my food to gluten free. But I am willing to try. I am going to call my insurance company and talk to them to see if what I can and can not do….Thank you for my story which is your story that I am claiming. .♡♡♡
    Reply

  24. Just a note to those of you who say you cannot afford to eat Gluten-free. Remember, anything processed is going to be more expensive, however, if you make your food from scratch it is cheaper than going out and buying mixes and such. Scratch cooking is more healthy anyway. Processed foods, whether they are gluten-free or not are still processed foods. Scratch cooking may take a little longer, but it’s really not that bad. My husband has had Celiac Disease since 2005.My daughter was just recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s but does not have Celiac Disease. Like what is stated here, I believe she has gluten sensitivities as well.
    Reply

  25. Does salt cause the body to retain chlorine and age to tissue more rapidly? I’ve been reintroducing salt after eating little for 30 years and my skin is looking dehydrated and I’m not as thirsty or urinate or drink near as much water as when I minimize salt. I think we should use salt to retain fluids at bedtime, but avoid it while awake and flush/hydrate more, plus avoid chlorinated drinks, hoy tubs etc.
    Reply

    • Jan- In the United States and many European countries that add iodine to salt or other foods, Hashimoto’s is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, and not iodine deficiency. While the average American may consume between 6 and 10 grams of salt per day, largely due to processed foods, it is difficult to estimate the amount of iodine that is contained in the Standard American Diet, due to uncertainty of whether the prepared food was made with iodized salt or non-iodized salt. Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂

      WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/

      OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/

      Reply

  26. Going gluten free is not expensive. Don’t buy any processed junk and replace it with meats and fresh veggies. You’ll end up spending the same amount or less. The allergy test is covered by Blue Cross. I went gluten free when my Hubby was not working. It seems daunting, but it can be done. I appreciate this site for its well written info.
    Reply

  27. I was forced to go on an elimination diet because of severe leaky gut issues. As I said in an earlier comment, I literally ate the same thing every single day for over 2 yrs, homemade chicken soup and baked chicken and green beans, all organic. I’ve also paid thousands of dollars out of pocket going to Naturopathic doctors because my husband’s insurance doesn’t cover “Alternative Medicine”. I’m on disability because of this illness, so money is very tight. We don’t have a FSA/HSA because his company got rid of that benefit last year. I’m paying a small fortune in supplements every month, (which means some bills aren’t getting paid) so that I can work on getting better and healing my body. I’ve bought several books, listened to online seminars and read tons of information from experts to try and learn as much as I can about this disease so that I can get a handle on it. I’m currently seeing a Naturopathic doctor who is very nice but I feel this condition is beyond her skill level because of how complicated it can be. Finding a doctor that is skillful, will listen to me without being dismissive and isn’t going to break the bank, (we gotta eat, don’t we?) is almost impossible. I also know that any doctor like this is going to be an out of pocket expensive, so I have to consider that too. Like millions of other people out there, I’ve been battling and feel like I don’t have too many options available to me due to the expense of finding a good doctor and the financial limitations my husband and I face daily. I’m up for the challenge and not afraid to fight for my health but there’s only so much I can do on my own.
    Reply

  28. HASHIMOTO’s been nasty and has completely destroyed my thyroid. I have been on a gluten free diet for four months. I put myself on it since my doctor seems to be lacking a brain, so I am looking for another doctor. How can doing all of what you have said help my thyroid if it is completely destroyed? Do I still have Hashimoto Disease and, if I do, what does it now do since my thyroid is destroyed? I couldn’t find answers to that in your book. Anything that you can tell me about Hashimoto’s with no thyroid left and which med I should try to get my doctor to give me when I see him in a week. I like being proactive. Thank you so much!!!
    Reply

    • Donna- Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically, is ‘dead’, or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to re-balance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.

      HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Reply

  29. I am unable to access the food panel links. I wondered if that is because i live in NY State??? Is there any other way to see this link/information? Thanks!
    Reply

    • Alice- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  30. I have an underactive thyroid. I can give up some foods but I need my dairy products. I can cut down on dairy .lately I’ve had no appetite.
    Reply

  31. I once felt as you do about dairy, but is eating them worth feeling terrible? When I went without them–drinking almond milk or a combination of almond/coconut milk and eating goat’s milk cheese–I felt soooo much better. Eating dairy cheese was enough to bring back brain fog and joint pain. I finally figured out it wasn’t worth it.
    Reply

  32. Yep, me too. Hashimotos, celiac, sensitive to dairy, grains, night shades and sugar. Functional medicine doctor finally helped, regular doc did not help, just prescribed meds. So much more energy, depression has lifted. There are a lot of wonderful food naturally gluten free, that don’t cost any more.
    Reply

  33. Also my skin cleared after not eating dairy for a few weeks, I had painful cystic acne for years, and my skin now is perfectly clear.
    Reply

  34. My biggest question is what the heck can one eat. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and noticed through many trial and errors that I have many food allergies as well. What can one eat with this diagnosis?
    Reply

  35. I have been sick since I was 13. Come to find out I had spru and sensitivity to dairy and to gluten. I had joint pain, headaches,reflux, stomach cramps always and very crabby most days. Many Dr appointments and the dr.s don’t think that is the problem. Four of the dr.s asked if it was in my head. Now I eat cooked fresh vegetables, meats, corn noodles (the best ones), rice and almond milk. So who will listen to us. How long or how sick does a person have to be to get someone to listen. Is there any other suggestion I can use to get someone to listen to us?
    Reply

  36. My daughter & I both need all the info we can get. Hashi’s is hereditary! Not only in women either. This is the first time I have seen this disease addressed since diagnosed 30 years ago. Than God &;you.
    Reply

  37. I have been told different things about avoiding gluten from my endo and my regular doctor.. My endo said don’t worry, even though I had a slightly positive blood test, and my doctor said to avoid it. Then he said don’t worry if my stomach isn’t bothering me! I got diagnosed a little over three years ago and had a follicular tumor removed on the right side of my thyroid. I’m currently on 137mcg/day and taking vitamin D. My results for my blood test in 2012:
    Weak Positive, Celiac diagnoses questionable. IgA, Serum – 357 (70-310 is normal) Gliadin Ab, IgA 22 (0-19 is normal) TTG Ab, IgA 5 (0-19) TTG Ab, IgG 4 (0-19)
    Reply

    • Katrina- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.

      It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Reply

  38. I just got my results back from the 184 panel, do I need to avoid all foods I have low, moderate and high reactivity to? I can’t find a lot online for the validity of these types of tests. Do you anything to point me to? I read that IGg antibodies are elevated just by eating certain foods and it doesn’t indicate an allergy or sensitivity. Thanks in advance!
    Reply

  41. I was told the best thyroid medication, which is suppose to be “more” natural was Armour Thyroid. My naturpathic doctor prescribed it for me at a very low dose. I know it’s not the best but was told it was better than the others. My natural doctor moved and I go to a great medical one and he has kept me on the same things. I’m now starting to get joint pain. If I increase my water intake, I mean a lot it helps. I have a big family that I need to take care of and don’t know how I would function if I didn’t take some medication.
    Reply

  42. I went Gluten free in January and I can’t believe how much better I feel. I have Hashimoto’s and the MTHFR Gene. I just learned about a flour that a lot of people who have gluten sensitivities are able to digest. It is an ancient flour that has not been modified so it is a lot easier on our digestion. The flour is called Einkorn. I tried it last week and did not have any reaction to it whereas I do have a terrible reaction to gluten. Has anyone tried this flour and successfully able to use it?
    Reply

  43. Dear Izabella!

    I’m thinking about to make a food sensitivity test. I live in the UK. Which test do you recommend for me?
    I’m on paleo diet for more than a year, and on AIP for 10 months. But I feel that something not good for me…

    Thanks for your help!
    Anna

    Reply

    • Anna – thank you for following this page and your support.

      Here a links to the Food Sensitivity tests I recommend:

      184 Food Panel
      https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/184-food-allergy-igg-alletess-trx

      96 Food Panel
      https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/96-food-allergy-igg-alletess-trx

      You may also be interested in this article:

      ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos

      Have you read my book, Hashimoto’s The Root Cause? Here’s the link in case you’re interested.

      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20

      Reply

      • Dear Izabella!

        Thank you for your help and your quick answer!

        I have already ordered your book. It’s arrived today!:) I can’t wait to read about your amaizing researches! I really would like to understand what is my root cause…

        I’ve seen these two tests in your article as well, but I thought they are not available in the UK. Now I see they are!:) Thanks for your recommendation!

        I have already written that I’m on paleo and now on strict AIP for a while (10 months). I think the AIP lifestyle does not give complete solution to my problems. My anti-TPO is still high and I do not tolerate ‘good foods’ since I’m on this diet. Of course it has many benefits and positive effects on my life as well.

        What do you think? Should I reintroduce the avoided foods before I make the food sensitivity test? How should I do it? How long time/How many times should I eat these foods before make the test to get right results?
        I would choose the 184 food panel test. I don’t want to eat gluten or soy… I know the life is better without these, but I’m curious if I have food intolerance to diary, seeds and other gluten free grains (oat, rice…) that I may reintroduce one day after the strict AIP…

        I would be grateful for your thoughts and advice!

        Anna

        Reply

  44. Dear Dr.Wentz, I don’t know if you’ve already received this question, but I wanted to ask you:
    If going gluten free can lead you to reduce the dose of levothyroxine, how much time is it necessary for this to happen? You write about a 3 month period of “trial”. Is it enough? Can the need for less hormone replacement occur earlier than that? And, more importantly, is it gradual or does it happen all of a sudden?

    Reply

  45. Hi Dr Izabella,
    Thank you so much for your amazing hard work with regards to all things thyroid!
    I haven’t been diagnosed with a thyroid condition but I am well aware that my thyroid is very unhappy:(
    I believe I may have a dairy sensitivity and I’m going to give up dairy to find out. I have two questions: will I eventually be able to eat dairy again, once my gut has healed? And, can I eat butter? I know butter is dairy but it is included in the Paleo diet, which excludes all other dairy.
    Thank you again.
    Tamsyn

    Reply

  46. Thank you very much for such an interesting article, Isabella!
    I have had a blood allergy test done and apparently am allergic to hazelnuts and birch pollen, with a cross allergy to apples, pears, cherries, walnuts, carrots and cinnamon (although I have never noticed any of these).
    I am vegan and gluten-free, and after this I am now really desperate. What is there left to eat? I eat apples daily and cannot imagine living without them, but will if I have to. But I am breastfeeding and burn a lot of calories…I just feel very limited now with what I can still eat. Does this allergy mean I should avoid those (I have hay fever, so I guess my mucosas do react), or not necessarily?

    Reply

  47. I have been tested for foodsensitivities. I have a whole list nut gluten is not on that list. Can i relay in that list or is it still possible that gluten is a problemen for my thyroidproblems?
    (Since I eat according to that list I have no stomacproblems or diarree. But it is not going Well with my thyroid, muscles and anxiety. It got worce after my best griend dyed)

    Reply

    • Ingrid – thank you for following this page.

      It depends on the person and their individualized food sensitivities. Some people go into remission just gluten free; others may have to go as far as autoimmune Paleo. The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections. Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey.

      I’ve found that recognizing and eliminating reactive foods can be a life-changer for most people with Hashimoto’s.

      Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten.

      Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function!

      BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism

      TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs

      DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy

      Reply

  48. I’m half way through reading the Root Cause and also purchased Hashimoto’s Protocol, which I haven’t begun yet. I began Paleo diet about 3 weeks ago. I received results of my 96 Food Panel today, which lists sensitivity to foods that I’ve been eating while on Paleo diet (spinach, green peas, and pepper). I’ll remove those food now. Can I add other foods that ARE listed on the Paleo and AIPaleo back to my diet if sensitivity test showed no reactivity? For example, I tested 0 for gluten, 0 for rice, 0 for soybeans. OR should I still stay away from gluten, soy, rice? From Root Cause book, there are recommendations to steer away from gluton.

    Reply

  49. Dear Dr.Wentz, We know that a gluten sensitive person that goes gluten free for at least a couple of weeks and then tries a “challenge” of gluten reintroduction will likely experience symptoms he didn’t have before, like pain or bloating. I wanted to ask you, if someone keeps eating gluten beyond that moment, will those symptoms be likely to persist or will they disappear over time? I ask this as a general consideration

    Reply

    • Ombretta – thank you for following this page. In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot to give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals.

      WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky

      Reply

  50. Hi, Dr Izabella. I have read on a multiple occasions that butter actually is O.K. to consume going dairy free diet since it is mostly fat and does not cause intolerance particularly if consumed in small amounts.

    I am quite severely sick for almost four years, recently developed immediate reactions to food sensitivities. Am gluten, grain, dairy free. Found to be sensitive to nightshades, celery, pineapple, bananas, seeds and nuts too (I am sure i missed something). I go itchy or tingly straight away after consuming those. However butter does not cause reaction, at least immediate. Still having fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, muscle issues etc. So my question is: should I totally avoid butter? Very little of food is left that satisfies me. Anyway…

    Thank you so much for your work and your enthusiasm you share with others, I wish I back to my normal self too.

    By the way, my TSH recently was 1.06mlU/L, two years ago 0.74 mlU/L. My GP says my thyroid is okey.

    Thanks again, Ruta, Ireland

    Reply

    • Ruta – thank you for reaching out! In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, because not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals. Here is a link that might help:

      WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky

      Reply

  51. Hi Izabella, thank you for the books and the information in General! You are doing a very important thing to the people.
    I am 37 years old and I have a Hashimoto. I am eating healthy (thank to my parents), I felt good and didn’t take my sickness seriously. Now I decided to help my body and so I am going to start gluten free (before I was just dairy free, no junk food, separate meals no carbs and protein in one meal). I have got both your books and I am reading it now. I want to make food allergies test due to realize I can have some weird allergen like pineapple or banana or etc. Do you recommend to pass that test in those labs only? And how to be with the kids meals? I try to buy organic products, I am cooking at home, but still some milk products and pastas they asked for…is the buckwheat, oatmeal and quinoa are better then rice, corn and wheat? Thanks!!!

    Reply

    • Alena – thank you for reaching out. Did you know that reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten?

      Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

      FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos

      AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet

      Reply

  52. Thank you Izabella, I am strongly believe I will be one of these people with your help! How often do you think it’s nessesery to redone the test for good allergy ? Ones a year?

    Reply

  53. I have an important question before I spend the money on the testing.
    How is the MRT food sensitivity test in comparison? I have heard its much more accurate.
    I had IgG food sensitivity testing 13 years ago and its taken me a long time to have the money to spend on another test, so before I do so, I need a professional opinion.
    I am chronically ill for 14+ years, autoimmune, Hashi, etc, hypothyroid, and always assimilation of nutrient issues, and I firmly believe my gut is the answer to healing,
    But I have been on one form of restricted diet or elimination for this entire time and I am sick of it. Just want the test, thanks.

    Reply

  54. Do you need to be consuming the foods you’re tested for in order to get an accurate answer? If you’ve eliminated certain foods from your diet and haven’t eaten them in quiet some time, the test would show a false negative even if you are indeed reacting to them? If that would be the case, in order to get an accurate picture, would we need to reintroduce ‘suspicious’ foods before testing? I’m talking about different nuts, nightshades etc, but not gluten and dairy and anything we’re sure it causes an immune reaction. Thanks😊

    Reply

  55. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s a couple years ago and, about 6 months ago, completely eliminated A WHOLE BUNCH of possible trigger foods – gluten, dairy, soy, nightshades. I’ve seen significant improvement in my numbers, but would like to now do the Alletess food sensitivity test. Do I need to reintroduce the foods back into my diet in order for my actual triggers to be detected by the test?

    Reply

  56. Good day Izabella . I did IgG 95 Common Food Panel and the result is not bad))) I have Hashimoto and low cortisol. Just wanna clarify the result- there 3 sections- Low, Moderate ,Avoid . The food from Low – eat every day . Moderate – eat ones each 4 days ? That’s correct? Avoid – completely , don’t eat . And , base on this test Candida Screen of Candida Albicans is moderate – 306 my result , reference range – low 380 . My result belongs to moderate 120-380 . Any way, I did anticandida program , but did not have test after this program. So, should I concern about Candida and repeat the anticandida program again if I don’t have any symptoms ? I did this test on January 2017, and program on March-April . Thank you very much in advance .

    Reply

  57. If I have Hashimoto’s and my gallbladder has been removed does that effect my treatment. I take medication for thyroid, my levels show good. I still have some symptoms, but not sure if it is Hashimoto’s or no gallbladder. I had acid reflux before having the gallbladder removed, but that went away with removal. I had IBS before, and it comes and goes now, but seems different. I have not changed my diet.

    Reply

    • Bre – thank you so much for sharing your journey. I am sorry you are struggling with this. <3 I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician to be a part of your own health care team. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying root causes and prevent serious chronic disease rather than treating individual disease symptoms. I believe that everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let him/her be a part of the healthcare team. You want someone that can guide you, that will also listen to you and your concerns. You want someone that’s open to thinking outside of the box and who understands that you may not fit in with the standard of care. It's a good idea to ask some standard questions when contacting a new doctor for the first time. Something else to consider is you can work with a functional doctor remotely, via Skype. You could also contact your local pharmacist or compounding pharmacy, who may be able to point you to a local doctor who has a natural functional approach. But I encourage you to keep looking for the right one for you! Here are some resources you might find helpful.

      CLINICIAN DATABASE
      https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/pages/clinician-database

      FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
      https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

      http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/recommended-compounding-pharmacies.html

      Reply

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